Electrical connection means



Jan. 19, 1943. w, DRURY 2,308,596

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed Dec. 9, 1940 F 5 I fYOMAS Pl.fifUkY-INVENTOK @ZJW/WWW Patented Jan. 19, 1943 2,308,596 ELECTRICALCONNECTION MEANS Thomas W. Drnry, Bronson, Mich, assignor to H. A.Douglas Mfg. 00., Bronson, MiciL, a corporation of Michigan ApplicationDecember a, 1940, Serial 1No. 389,251

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-134) This invention relates generally to electricalconnection means, including what is known in the trade as a junction orfuse block.

The junction block hereinafter described may be used wherever foundapplicable but is preferably designed for attachment adjacent the backof the instrument panel of an automotive vehicle, and includes, amongother things, a carrier of insulating material having terminals and fuseclips associated therewith and a bracket for securing the block withrespect to the panel or some other desirable support.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved bracket for ajunction block whereby portions thereof are so constructed and arrangedwith respect to certain electrical connections that the bracket iscompletely insulated from said connections.

Another object is to provide an improved form of fuse clip and aterminal plate which interlock with each other in a particular manner.

A further object is to provide a fuse clip having means associatedtherewith whereby to prevent or limit undue expansion of the clip when afuse is inserted into or removed from same. In this connection it isalso an object to provide the means just referred to with a bulge orother form of reinforcement whereby to maintain said means in a rathersubstantially fixed predetermined position with respect to a portion ofthe clip.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident byreference to the description hereinafter set forth in conjunction withthe drawing annexed hereto:

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a top view, regular size, of the junction block;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on line 2-4of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view, regular size, of the block shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line l4 of Figure1, showing certain details of construction; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2,through a portion of one of the fuse clips, and illustrates in detailthe reinforcement as applied to that part of the clip which limits theexpansion thereof.

The'junction or fuse block clearly illustrated in the drawing includes,among other things, a carrier generally designated l of some desirableinsulating material such as a phenolic condensate. The .blockis'preferably made of fairly thin,

flat, yet substantial stock, and a plurality of fuse clips and otherelectrical connections are secured to one side thereof. These electricalconnections include a pair of fuse clips 2 and 3, a second pair 4 and 5,and a third pair or set 8 and I, which pairs are arranged longitudinallyin spaced apart parallel relation on the block. Each pair of clips isadapted to receive a fuse of the character shown in Figures 1 and 2. Asmost clearly shown in these figures, the clips 2 and 4 are preferablyelectrically and mechanically connected by means of a rectangular fiatjumper plate 8 which overlies the base portions of the clips. Oneextremity of the jumper extends outwardly beyond one of the longitudinalmarginal edges of the carrier and may be provided with a screw or someother desirable means so that the end of a conductor wiremay be securedto the Jumper. The means employed for connecting the Jumper plate 8 tothe clips 2 and l and to the carrier I will be described later. Asubstantially flat generally square terminal plate 9 is connected to theclip 3 and the carrier in a particular manner and will also be describedlater.

A bracket generally designated I0 is secured to one flat side of thecarrier of insulating material by means of a rivet II. This bracketincludes, among other things, a generally flat portion l2, which engagesthe carrier, and in order to prevent lateral movement of the bracketrelative tothe carrier, the marginal edges of the portion I2 arepreferably deformed so as to preferably provide a pair of lateraltongues 13 which engage one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier.Obviously other means than the tongues I; may be employed to counteractlateral movement of the bracket as, for example, a rivet in addition torivet H may be used to further tie the bracket in place. The bracketalso includes an angular fiat portion ll which is preferably providedwith a plurality of threaded apertures l5 through which means such asscrews may be inserted for securing the junction block relative to asupport.

It is clearly evident that each of the clips 2 through 1 are identical,and therefore a description of one will suffice. The clip 6 includes asubstantially fiat elongated base portion gener ally designated l6. Oneextremity of this base constitutes a tail portion I1 and the otherextremity i8 is provided with upstanding integral portions which aredesigned to grip the fuse.

The clip also includes a generally tubular fuse receptacle generallydesignated l9 which is secured to the base I6 by a resilient channelpart generally designated 20. More specifically the channel 20 iscomprised of upwardly and inwardly curved wall portions 2 I. The wallportions 2| are provided with continuations which extend outwardly andinwardly to form the areuate wall portions 22 which comprise thereceptacle II. The upper extremities of the portions 22 are preferablyflared outwardly at 24 in order to assist in piloting the fuse into thereceptacle. The receptacle I! and channel 2| are Joined together by awaist or Junction 23, and among other things, this waist provides-a stopand rest for the fuse. The channel is preferably made somewhat largerthan the receptacle so as to afford suflicient resilient support for thereceptacle.

In order to prevent undue expansion of the clip when a fuse is eitherbeing inserted or removed from the receptacle, one extremity of one ofthe walls 22 forming the receptacle I9 is provided with an integraloifset portion generally designated 25 which is in the form of an arm26. The arm 26 is arranged transverse with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the receptacle and in a plane substantially parallel to the baseof the clip. This arm is preferably made and arranged so as tosubstantially close off one open end of the receptacle, and the upperextremity of the arm may be provided with an outwardly flared portion 21similar to the flared portions 24 whereby all of the portions cooperateto provide means assisting to pilot the fuse into the receptacle.Specifically the arm and flared portion 21 also assist in guiding thefuse into a predetermined position so that the contact or terminal endsthereof are always in engagement with the walls of the receptacle.

The arm 26 is preferably of a length whereby to extend beyond the wallof the receptacle opposite the wall from which the arm is connected, andthe arm is provided with a transverse stop 28 which is arranged inspaced apart parallel relation to the receptacle. Accordingly, it isevident that when a fuse is inserted or withdrawn from the receptacle,that the wall of the receptacle opposite the one to which the arm isconnected will engage or fall just short of engaging the stop 28 thuspreventing undue expansion and possible distortion of the clip. By theprovision of the guard arm 26, it is also evident that the life of theclip proper is prolonged.

In order to maintain the arm 25 comparatively rigid or fixed withrespect to the receptacle, the junction between the arm and that portion22 of the receptacle to which the arm is connected is preferablyprovided with an outwardly projecting bulge or depression 41, as shownin Figure 5. This depression is so constructed and arranged that it israther diiilcult to bend the arm relative to the receptacle.

The base extremity II of each clip is permanently secured to thedielectric carrier l by a rivet 30 which passes through the base andcarrier as clearly indicated in Figures 2 and 4. The tail part I! ofeach of the clips 5, 6, and I is provided with a laterally extendingtubular internally threaded part 3| so as to receive the screws 32. Thepart 3| is disposed within an aperture 33 provided therefor in thecarrier. A washer 34 is carried by each of the screws 32, and an angulartongue 35 projects from the washer into an aperture 36 provided in thebase l6 of the clip and also into a recess 48 provided in the carrier.The purpose and function of the washer is well known. The tail part IIof each of the clips 2, I, and 4 is provided with a hole through which arivet extends whereby to seem the clips permanently in lace. Rivets l1secure the jumper plate I upon the clips 2 and 4, and a rivet ll securesthis plate to the carrier. Holes are provided in the carrier oppositethe rivets 31 so as to allow for clearance. A rivet II in addition tothe rivet ll secures the terminal plate 0 to the clip I and to thecarrier.

The terminal plate 0 is preferably provided with a pair of screws 4.which are threadedly secured to the free side of the plate for securingconductor wires ,to the plate. Each screw preferably carries a washer ofthe character above described having a tongue which projects into anaperture 4| provided in the plate.

As most clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the terminal plate Iis preferably provided with a narrow slot 42 which intersects onemarginal edge of .the plate and receive the wall 2| forming a part ofthe channel 2. whereby to interlock the plate and clip. By thisconstruction, a portion 43 of the plate is arranged within the channel2| and upon the base Ii of the clip.

The portion H of the bracket generally designated I0 is preferablyprovided with a plurality of spaced apart depressions which preventcertain rivets from engaging the bracket in order to preventshort-circuiting. This portion I2 is provides with a corner depression44 which prevents .the rivet 3| and the washer 24 of the clip 5 fromcoming in contact with the bracket. A similar depression 45 adjacent theother corner of the portion I2 prevents the rivet 80 securing the clip 4to the carrier from engaging the bracket. A pair of depressions 46 arealso provided in the portion l2 so as to prevent the rivets 3| andwashers 34 associated with the clips 6 and I from coming into engagementwith the metal bracket.

In view of the foregoing it should be apparent .that improved principlesof design and construction have been embodied in a junction block andthat among other things improved means have been provided whereby toimprove the durability and efliciency of the fuse clips.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousmodifications may be made in the same without departing from the spiritof the invention; and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A carrier of insulating material having a planar surface, electricalconnection means carried by said carrier, a mounting bracket secured tosaid carrier, and a depression provided in said bracket opposite saidelectrical connection means for maintaining said bracket out ofelectrical engagement therewith.

2. Electrical connection means including, a carrier of insulatingmaterial, a terminal having a fiat base engaging said carrier, anaperture provided in said carrier, a metal take-oil member overlappingand engaging said terminal base, an aperture provided in said take-offmember, a rivet passing through the aperture in said carrier and throughthe aperture in said take-oil. member for attaching the take-off memberto said carrier, means securing said terminal base and said take-offmember together, and a recess formed in said carrier providing relieffor said securing means.

3. Electrical connection means including, a

horizontally disposed generally U-shaped portion and a verticallydisposed generally U-shaped portion integrally connected together toprovide a unit, one of the sides of the vertically disposed U-shapedportion and one of the sides of the horizontally disposed U-shapedportion being fashioned to provide a'receptacle adapted to receive a.plug conductor terminal, and said one side of the vertically disposed Ubeing adapted for movement between the said one side and the oppositeside of the horizontally disposed U when a plug conductor is insertedinto said receptacle.

4. Electrical connection means including, a horizontal base portion, afirst portion integrally connected to said base portion extending in'agenerally vertical position with respect to said base portion, the upperextremity of said vertical portion being fashioned to provide a part ofa horizontally disposed terminal receptacle adapted to receive a plugconductor terminal, said part extending in a generally vertical plane inspaced apart relation with respect to said first generally verticalportion, the upper extremity of said second generally vertical portionbeing fashioned to provide a second horizontally disposed part of theterminal receptacle complemental to said first part and being adaptedfor movement in the space between said first ,part of said receptacleand said stop portion of'said continuation.

THOMAS W. DRURY.

